Search - Karol Rathaus, Israel Yinon, Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt :: Karol Rathaus: Symphonies 2 & 3

Interesting and powerful music in good performances

G.D. | Norway | 08/20/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Polish-born Karol Rathaus (1895-1954) was one of the many composers who fled Europe for the US as a result of the rise of Hitler. Initially he wished to establish a career in the film or musical industry, but ended instead up with a career in the academia. Recently his music has also been pretty well represented on record, and this disc is a nice addition to his catalogue.



The second symphony is a rather densely written, stark work applying 12-tone techniques, or something close to 12-tone techniques (but not rigorously so). The end result is rather impressive - certainly bleak and dissonant (but by no means austere), imaginatively constructed and quite variegated, especially in the impressive, almost Mahlerian final movement. The third symphony is more accessible; tumultuous and dense but with a lyrical streak and playfulness that is quite irresistible. The idiom is still audibly indebted to Mahler, but the end result bears more similarity with the music of, say, Bernhard Herrmann or - perhaps - Egon Wellesz.



The performances are lively and committed, and Israel Yinon seems to have a thorough understanding of the idiom. Sound quality is very good as well, and the disc can be safely recommended, at least to the adventurous."